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Hailemariam Desalegn – Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister
Hailemariam said in a 2010 interview that he came back to Ethiopia because of family, his daughter had been born when he was leaving the country, and because he said there would be a better situation in the country than during the previous regime.
After returning from Finland, Hailemariam joined the country’s Arba Minch Water Technology Institute and served 13 years in different positions, including as registrar, vice dean, and dean of the institute.
After a few years as a member of the ruling party he was first appointed as vice-president of the country’s southern region and later a president of the region. He gained political points as the southern region progressed economically and as stability improved.
He joined the national political scene in 2006 as and adviser to Zenawi, and was soon appointed as the government’s chief whip in parliament. He then became Zenawi’s deputy in 2010.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press
